Aeroplane wing



MUELLE Filed Feb. 6 1930 m in; 51%;

E EVA:

Patented Aug. 19, 1930 UNITED STA iii PAUL MUELLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AEROPLANE WING Application filed February 6, 1930. Serial no. 426,346.

This invention relates to new and useful provision of an aeroplane wing provided withimproved means for increasing the carrying capacity of the carrying surfaces through the utilizing of. the resistance of the air as the wing passes therethrough.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an aeroplane wing provided with means for directing a current or currents of air beneath the wing to assist in raising the same and at the same time increasing the lifting capacity of the wing.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an aeroplane wing provided at its forward or resistance edge with rotatable cylinders which will have a tendency to direct a current of air upwardly against the lower surface of the wing and increase the carrying capacity of the same.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction, the combination and ar- 5 rangement of parts hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Referring more particularly to the drawing Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of my improved aeroplane Wing.

Figure 2 is a front elevation, and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic end-elevation.

1 indicates in general the body portion of an aeroplane wing having a forward curved 5 resistance edge 2. Extending transversely of the body of the wing just behind the forward curved wall are the spaced bearings 3.

Directly behind the curved forward wall 3 are a plurality of cylinders 4 which extend in alignment longitudinally of the wing. These cylinders 4 are provided at each end with trunnions 5 mounted in the spaced bearings. The cylinders 4 are so mounted that a portion thereof extends below the lower edge of the curved front part as shown so that the air passing beneath the lower edge of the front part of the wing will strike these cylinders and cause them to rotate in the direction of the'arrow.

I It will be noted from the foregoing that by causing the cylinders to rotate in the direc tion indicated it will cause a certain amount of the air current that engages these cylinders to be directed upwardly beneath the lower surface of the wing l. Arranged in substai'itially the same general plane as the cylinders 4 are the two sets of cylinders 5' and 6. These sets of cylinders 5 and 6 are arranged in parallel pairs behind each of the cylinders 4, with a cylinder of each set arranged between two of the bearings 3.

These cylinders 5 and 6 are each provided at spaced points with annularly disposed chambers in which are arranged a plurality of turbine blades 7 all extending on a slant in the same general direction as shown. Leading inwardly from the curved forward wall 2 of the wing is a series of chutes 8 which taper toward their inner ends and open into the annularly disposed chambers in the cylinder 5 in which the blades 7 are located. The outer ends of these chutes are flared to form substantially large mouth portions 8 for receiving air as the wing is moved forwardly.

Arranged directly beneath the chutes 8 are the chutes 9 which taper at their inner ends and lead into the annular chambers in the cylinders 6. These chutes 9 are also formed with flared mouth portions 10 to direct the air through these chutes. The air which is directed rearwardly through the chutes 9 is passed into the annular chambers in the cylinders 6.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it will be readily apparent that the operation of my improved wing construction is as follows. It willv be noted that as the wing moves forwardly through the air, the air which passes beneath the lower edge of the curved front of the wing will engage the cylinders 4 and cause them to revolve. As these cylinders 4 revolve it will cause the air striking these cylinders to be directed upwardly beneath the wing. The air which rushes through the chutes 8 and 9 will engage the blades 7, cansing cylinders 5 and 6 to revolve and also cause the air from these annular chambersin cylinders 5 and 6 to be directed upwardly beneath the wing due principally to the direction in which these cylinders revolve.

Attention is also directed to the fact that I the air current from the cylinders 4 passes upwardly between cylinders 4 and 5 thus the upwardly directed air from cylinders 4 mingles with the air currents from cylinders 4 and pass upwardly beneath the wing and this together with the air currents from cylinm ders 6 will increase the carrying capacity of the wings. It will be apparent that this type of construction is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and install-and will add a great deal of efliciency to aeroplane wings. vWhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention various changes may be made in carrying the invention into practice without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

laims:

'1. In an aeroplane wing, a body portion having a curved forward wall, a plurality of rotatably mounted cylinders arranged beneath the body adjacent the forward wall,

means carried by the forward wall for directing a1r currents on some of the cylinders for rotating them in one direction, the cylinders next to the wall extending below the lower edge of the forward wall and engaged by the air passing beneath the edge for rotating the latter cylinders in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the other cylinders to direct an air current upwardly toward the underside.

2. In an aeroplane wing, a body portion, a plurality of rotatable cylinders beneath the body adjacent its forward edges, and means for directing air currents onto the cylinders 40 for rotating them in opposite directions to direct air currents upwardly beneath the body portion of the wing.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of November, A. D. 1929.

PAUL MUELLER. 

